Category Archives: Google

Pepsi, tell me what you don’t like about yourself.

For companies, re-branding with a new logo or fresh look provides a sort of facelift. (Really takes years off their life.)

Some get over-the-top PR, other re-brands slide in under the radar.

Zimedia has compiled a list of popular re-brands in the last four years, roughly 2008 to present. For many, it’s the first re-design in years.

Is there a downside to all this brand surgery?

Pepsi

Left: 1987 to 2008 / New Logo: 2008 to Present

Walmart

Left: 1992 to 2008 / New Logo: 2008 to Present

Best Buy

Left: 1987 to 2008 / New Logo: 2008 to present

NFL

Left: 1980 to 2008 / New Logo: 2008 to Present

Holiday Inn

Left: 1952 to 2007 / New Logo: 2007 to Present

Google

Left: 1999 to 2010 / New Logo: 2010 to Present

iTunes

Left: 2008 to 2010 / New Logo: 2010 to Present

Gap

Left: 1986 to 2010 / New Logo: 2010 to 2010. One week after introducing the logo, Gap returned to the previous logo

Starbucks

Left: 1987 to 2010 / New Logo: 2010 to Present

YMCA

Left: 1967 to 2010 / New Logo: 2010 to Present, with different color variations for different programs

Comedy Central

Left: 2000 to 2010 / New Logo: 2010 to Present

Wikipedia

Left: 2003 to 2010 / New Logo 2010 to Present

msn

Left: 1999 to 2010 / New Logo: 2010 to Present, though the old logo is still used as a “secondary” logo

DELL

Left: 1984 to 2010 / New Logo: 2010 to Present

Playstation 3

Left: 2006 to 2009 / New Logo: 2009 to Present

Discovery

Left: 2000 to 2009 / New Logo: 2009 to Present

Animal Planet

Left: 1996 to 2008 / New Logo: 2008 to Present

Red Lobster

Founded in 1968, Red Lobster introduced its new logo in 2011

Google Chrome

Left: 2008 to 2011 / New Logo: 2011 to Present

Petco

Founded in 1965, Petco introduced its new logo in 2011

Cinemax

Left: 2008 to 2011 / New Logo: 2011 to Present

StumbleUpon

Left: 2001 to 2011 / New Logo: 2011 to Present

Subtle re-brands are my favorite. Maybe freshen up the colors or soften the edges. Minor stuff. In and out in less than an hour.

We all need to reinvent ourselves from time to time. Re-evaluate our image and our focus. Brands are no exception. But there’s value, too, in brand recognition. Years of building a brand through products, advertising and generations of customers. Only to change things up in the fear of becoming stale.

There’s something to be said about an old brand. It’s got character, and it’s often packed with emotion and memories. Well-built brands are more than just a logo. And a botched re-branding can really look bad.

Mobile is looking like Web 3.0 with the emergence of mobile devices like the iPad, Kindle and Nook; the rise in smartphone usage; and the explosion of mobile apps. It’s not just for work. Mobile is taking over our lives. Work and play.

We’ve compiled the Top Five tools for Mobile Productivity, from the workplace to strictly entertainment.

Top Five tools for Mobile Productivity

1. Cloud Drives

Storage & Music

Standalone Cloud storage services like Dropbox receive most of the press. But Amazon’s variety comes with a music store.

Amazon is also a great place to store your music. Music purchases from the Amazon mp3 store can be saved directly to your cloud. And thus can be accessed anywhere and with a growing number of devices including smartphones and tablets. Start off with 5 GB of free storage. Just sign in, sign up for your free 5 GB and start uploading files for backup, storage or to listen to your tunes without taking up space on your mobile device.

2. Google Apps

Calendar & Google Docs

It’s time to move on from Outlook, people. Google is the place to be. When I use Outlook for email or the calendar, it feels like I’m navigating a rotary phone…plus it’s tied to a machine. Google Calendar and Docs, as well as gmail, is tied to nothing; it’s all on the cloud. Access all of it on any computer, any smartphone, tablet or mobile device. Get calendar reminders on your smartphone.

With Google Apps (formerly Google Docs) user can save Documents, open Office products like Word and Excel — with or without Microsoft Office. When you save documents in the cloud — like resumes, presentations, pictures — they’re always with you.

Google’s smartphone apps — and native integration with most mobile devices — make all of your documents, calendar appointments and messages accessible anywhere with an Internet connection. Save documents, presentations or pictures as a backup or for instant access on any of your devices.

To get started, just sign up for gmail and click “Documents” at the top. [Note: if by the time of this post, Google has changed its navigation bar to a drop-down menu, just click the drop-down and find Documents.] Then start uploading files or Create a new document.

3. Smartphone Apps

There’s an app for that. It’s not just a saying. There really is an app for everything. News, Shopping, Books, Movies, TV, Social Networking, Checking in and just about anything else you can think of. Some of Tech Weekly’s favorites free apps for productivity and entertainment on the go:

Shazam – Can’t name that song on the radio, just click Shazam and it’ll tell you

Flickr – Take photos and upload them to Yahoo’s Flickr

Yelp – Check reviews or find a new place to eat with Yelp’s smartphone app

*Subscription required for Netflix

4. MyFax

MyFax makes having a fax machine unnecessary. In fact, MyFax improves upon the old-school fax and then some.

No download necessary, just sign up for a MyFax account and you’ll be assigned a MyFax number. (You can pick the area code.) Once you’ve signed in, just click “Send a Fax.” Then enter the recipient’s fax number and attach the document you’d like to fax. Either scan the page to your computer and attach to the MyFax interface OR if the file is already on your computer, just attach. MyFax comes with some cool features including Cover Page Style; Status Flag for Urgent, Review, Comment, etc; and a Message Box. The recipient receives the fax in his/her fax machine, just like a normal fax.

Receive faxes right in your MyFax inbox as PDF or JPEG files. MyFax alerts you immediately via email. In fact, you can view the fax in your email inbox. If you’ve got email on your smartphone, you can view the fax right there. MyFax is a must for mobile work.

Send 100 faxes per month and receive 200 for only $10. Other options include Send 200, Receive 200 for $20. Or Send 400, Receive 400 for $40. Or an unlisted option of Send 50, Receive 50 for $5 per month. The plans can be changed at any time, though you’ll have to call MyFax to do it. Ironically, for an online fax service, you can’t change plans online. Though email is taking over, many businesses still fax documents. So ditch the fax machine and extra phone line and give MyFax a look.

5. Netflix

Netflix is the best thing to come to TV since color. It’s move to mobile only strengthens its hold on streaming movies and television content. And once you’ve got a Netflix subscription, it’s free on an unlimited number of devices. Use your one Netflix subscription on TVs, tablets, smartphones, etc. At home and on the road.

Until you’ve streamed Netflix content on a mobile device, it’s difficult to understand. A library of more than 20,000 titles available instantly with the tap of your finger. It’s as close to a dream as you’ll get.

To get started, just sign up for Netflix (streaming subscription starts at $7.99 per month after 1-month free trial) and download the Netflix app for your smartphone or mobile device. You’ll only have to sign in the first time after you download the app. From there on out it’s blue skies and smooth streaming.

Netflix is available on more than 700 devices including PCs; Macs; Internet-connected TVs; video-game consoles; Blu-ray players; Internet video players like Roku and Boxee; iPhone; iPad; Apple TV as well as Android and Windows devices…and more.

This is a great time to be a consumer. Companies are battling to release the next greatest advancement in technology — whether it’s NFC, Cloud Storage, Streaming Video or even Social Networking — and the consumers are ready and waiting. The instant a company releases a new product or service, the competition follows suit.

And that makes today’s consumer more connected than ever.

Brand extensions are to blame for much of the competition in technology today. Foursquare brings about Facebook Places. Skype leads to Google Hangouts. Square brings mobile payment to the forefront, with PayPal and Google following closely behind. Facebook (and MySpace before that) brought the rise of the social network; Google is now employing a brand extension with Google+.

A Brand Extension is when a company known for a particular good/service attempts to extend its services to another business category beyond its initial range.

Now, the current landscape:

Social Networking

Facebook vs. Google+

Facebook has been king of the social networking world since it overtook MySpace in 2008. MySpace was recently sold to Specific Media and entertainment artist Justin Timberlake. It’s future is still uncertain.

In the limited beta release of Google+, Google goes head to head with Facebook. A similar scenario to its battle with MySpace, only Google+ seems better equipped.

Google+ invites are on the streets as the company seems to be opening up its social network to more users. It’s limited beta at first offered only short windows for invites from current users. The service already is reported to have users in the millions, after a little more than one week on the market. Facebook, meanwhile, recently confirmed it has acquired 750 million users.

Mobile Payment

Square vs. Google vs. Paypal

Mobile payments are a hot topic, and the most popular service is likely Square, which hit $1 million in processed payments after less than a year in business. Square was launched by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey in May of 2010.

Square allows users — whether it’s for personal or businesses use — to accept credit card payments using a smartphone and Square’s free mobile payment device, through which users swipe their actual plastic cards. (Square does not use NFC technology.)

Google unveiled its Google Wallet offering, a partnership with Citi, MasterCard, First Data, and Sprint. Google Wallet is an Android app that makes your phone your wallet. It accomplishes this by storing virtual versions of your plastic cards on your smartphone.

Using Near-Field Technology (NFC), users will be able to pay via their Google-Wallet equipped smartphones simply by tapping the phone on a checkout reader, available at many merchant locations.

And most recently, PayPal bolstered its mobile offering on July 7 with the $240 million acquisition of mobile-payment service Zong.

Zong partners with hundreds of mobile phone carriers around the world and allows users to enter their mobile phone number to make purchases. The charges are then applied to the user’s monthly mobile-phone bill.

Zong was eBay’s second mobile acquisition. The first was Fig Card, a Square-like device that allows users to accept payments with credit cards by swiping them through Fig’s USB-powered reader.

Check-ins

Foursquare vs. Facebook

Location-based applications allow users to ‘check-in’ via smartphone and share their location with other users of the service or other social networks. Users are able to see who else is checked in at a given location (from all users) or friends in nearby locations. By checking in, users receive points and/or badges and can unlock certain specials determined by the retailer.

The most publicized of these location-based apps is Foursquare. Today, there are a reported 8 million Foursquare users, up from just one million a year ago.

With the introduction of Facebook Places and other location-based services like Whrrl, which was acquired by daily deals service Groupon in mid-April, companies are copying Foursquare’s model. And vice versa, as evidenced by Foursquare’s recent inclusion and emphasis on its Yelp-like service directory Explore. Brand extensions are on display everywhere we look.

Video Inside Social Networking

With Google+, the company introduced Hangouts, a video-calling service. One week later, Facebook announced a partnership with Skype, allowing users to make video calls over the social network.

Facebook Video Calling will feature one-on-one video calls to your friends, a stripped-down version of Skype from what I understand. (Note: that’s not me in the screenshot; it’s a Facebook promo screen.)

The biggest advantage with Facebook Video Calling has when compared to Skype is that users don’t have to sign-up and login to Skype to chat; they simply do so through Facebook.

Google+ Hangouts allows group video chats with up to 10 participants, a sort of live chat room among your friends.

When Google+ Hangouts feature is launched, you can choose whom to invite in the video chat or simply alert all friends (or any other Circle) that you’re hanging out. And then wait for someone, among the Circle you’ve selected, to respond. (Note: that is me in the screenshot below, chatting with no one.)

As you can see at the bottom of the chat window (above), YouTube is also accessible via Hangouts.

I haven’t really discovered how YouTube can be used inside Hangouts. But I did watch Cake’s The Distance. I guess if my friends were on there we could have all watched it together…and then checked all of our reactions?

Google+ Hangouts and YouTube might be useful for work-related presentations. This service encroaches on GoToMeeting‘s territory. Now I’ve just got to find some people who want to have a meeting about Cake.

Cloud Storage

Amazon vs. Apple

On the Cloud, users can store music, videos, photos, and documents, which are then accessible from any computer or device with an internet connection and access to the cloud.

Amazon starts users off with a free 5GB of storage space. The 5GB of free space is about enough space, Amazon says, to store 1,000 songs. This first tier is free and you’ll never be charged for it. If a user purchases a digital album from Amazon’s mp3 store (amazon.com), it’ll upgrade your 5GB of free storage to 20GB. Other pricing/storage options for the Amazon Cloud range from 20GB to 1,000GB of space.

Apple iCloud operates in the same way as the Amazon Cloud Player, with iTunes integrated into iCloud. Everything purchased on iTunes is automatically accessible on the iCloud, in addition to other apps, photos, books and documents.

Streaming Music

Some companies like Amazon and Apple have tied their digital music services directly to Cloud Storage. Others like Slacker and Pandora are offering a more entertainment-centered approach.

Pandora makes things easy for listeners: subscription free and on nearly every device you own.

Pandora got its start on the computer. But the company is making even bigger leaps away from its traditional home on the PC; Pandora is now available on smartphones, tablets, televisions and a select number of automobiles.

According to a published report from Advertising Age, more than 50 percent of Pandora listening accomplished on devices other than the PC.

Slacker, however, is beginning to outshine Pandora in both integration and subscription options. Slacker offers three ways to listen. The first tier, like Pandora, is free of charge (but with ads) and allows users to create a custom station based on a particular band or song. The second is a paid subscription plan that provides unlimited song skips and is ad-free; Slacker Radio Plus is $3.99 per month.

Slacker also has a partnership with ABC News, with news breaks at the top of each hour for subscribers of either Slacker Plus or Slacker Premium Radio.

Slacker’s newest subscription is called Slacker Premium Radio. At $9.99 per month, this service includes everything available in Slacker Radio Plus as well as on-demand music, allowing listeners to search for and play songs on-demand, or songs from a particular artist. Slacker Premium Radio encroaches on MOG’s and Rdio’s territory — a brand-extension of sorts — by offering on-demand music.

It’s an exciting time for both consumers and businesses. Each service is experiencing tremendous competition — which only fuels innovation — as companies vie for the consumers’ time, interest and money.

The customers ultimately decide which products succeed and which ones flop. Therefore the success of these businesses relies much on us, the consumers, and in our experiences with these products and brands and how seamlessly we can integrate them into our lives.

The best technology becomes second-nature, like a brand extension of ourselves.

Google is making waves with its closed beta release of Google+, the company’s new social networking initiative that may soon challenge Facebook as the coolest kid on the Internet block. Well, next to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who is already the most followed Google+ user.

The truth is, with the launch of Google+, Facebook risks losing all of its cool factor.

Google+ is following in Facebook’s footsteps, making its initial release available to a small audience in a closed beta. Facebook was at first open only to college students (Major cool factor).

Google+ is using an invitation system (Equally cool). Those who were selected to join Google+ were able to invite other users to the network. These invite-only users are like VIP guests to Google’s party.

Meanwhile, Facebook’s busy hanging out with your mom and dad (Not so cool).

Google+ includes a feature called Circles, which allows users to easily categorize their friends in, well, social circles and then choose to share relevant information only to that particular group. Say, if you don’t want to share late-night status updates with your parents.

Google+ Circles is kind of like Facebook’s Groups feature. Only more user-friendly. And with Circles.

“We tried to build a system that you could use for the relationships over time. Circles are organized around the set of relationships that you in fact have in life,” said former Google CEO and current Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt in a talk at the Allen & Co conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Something to think about: how will the 18-24 demo, Facebook’s biggest user base, view Goolge+? (And even 25-34. Users under 35 make up more than 62 percent of Facebook users, according to iStrategy Labs.)

Very likely, they’ll view Google+ as a cool new hangout where they can connect with friends, chat, share photos and status updates without mom.

On the other end of the spectrum is the 55+ user, the segment that has experienced the largest percentage of growth among Facebook users (subtract cool).

As Facebook becomes a place for everyone, it loses its cool. If everyone’s doing it, it’s not cool; it’s just there.

The 18-24 demo is also a majority of the Early Adopters and Early Majority in the technology adoption curve.

The left half of the technology curve (Innovators, Early Adopters and Early Majority) is really what drives changes and trends in technology. Those users will determine the success of Goolge+. The Technology Adoption Curve was developed by Joe Bohlen, George Beal and Everett Rogers at Iowa State University in the 1950s. Graphic from Wikipedia.

The left half of the technology curve (Innovators, Early Adopters and Early Majority) is really what drives changes and trends in technology. Those users will determine the success of Goolge+.

Google v. Facebook

The real question is how will Google+ differentiate itself from Facebook. And will that be enough to compete against Zuck’s social networking behemoth?

I feel that product competition is not only compelling but completely necessary to any industry. Competition keeps companies on their game, forces them to improve and perfect their products and services.

That’s the kind of healthy competition that Facebook and Google can really use to their advantage. And that’s where MySpace faltered. MySpace — which at one time had a larger user base than Facebook is now shedding users and staff by the minute — was lethargic and ignorant to change and innovation.

MySpace was recently sold to Specific Media and entertainment artist Justin Timberlake [who in January was named Marketer of the Decade by yours truly].

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg is a social networking god, portrayed in books and a Hollywood blockbuster film. I doubt he’ll let the same thing happen to The Facebook (His character in The Social Network was relentless).

Unlike MySpace, Facebook will embrace the competition and use it as a spark to enhance its network and offer more to its users.

If Google+ does put a dent in Facebook’s user base, it won’t be the death of it; MySpace is still around for Zuck’s sake.

–

Source: TechCrunch, Tech Crunch TVFast Company, Mashable, Techmeme, CNet, ReadWriteWeb, GigaOm, Engadget, CNN Money, MacWorld, AdAge, All Things Digital, The Next Web, iStrategy Labs, funnypictures.co.uk, The Technology Adoption Curve was developed by Joe Bohlen, George Beal and Everett Rogers at Iowa State University in the 1950s. Graphic from Wikipedia.

Just when I understood the difference between Cumulus, Stratus and Cirrus, everyone’s talking about this new Internet Cloud.

The Cloud

The Cloud has been receiving a lot of buzz lately. But in fact, the Cloud (or cloud computing) is really just a metaphor for the Internet — and personal storage on a network. So it’s not exactly new. In a sense, our email operates on a Cloud. If you’ve ever logged into your email from more than one location, or stored email messages in a folder for viewing later, you’ve accomplished the same thing.

There’s also a distinction between Public and a Private Clouds, as well as hybrids, which I have yet to wrap my head around. That’s why we’re sticking to Public Cloud talk in this post.

If anyone’s an expert in this Cloud bu’ness (particularly public vs. private or hybrid clouds), feel free to shoot me an email at ericsadblog@gmail.com and set me straight.

Nevertheless, the press surrounding it has certainly exploded within the last year. As well as the number of companies developing their own cloud services for the public. Namely, Amazon, Google and most recently Apple.

The Cloud is like a hard drive in the sky, allowing users to store files on a computer network accessible on-demand from any device with an Internet connection. Versus storing documents on a local computer, and thus only accessible from that specific computer.

Users can upload their own music to the Cloud, in addition to documents, photos, videos, etc, in addition to use as a backup service. Or as with Amazon and soon Apple via iTunes, users can purchase music online and save it directly to the Cloud.

The only limitation with the Cloud is that an Internet Connection is required to access it; though files can be saved from the Cloud to a local device (computer, smartphone, tablet, etc) for offline access. But I suppose that’s the same as saying you can only make calls on your cell phone where you have service. That hasn’t exactly stopped adoption of mobile phones.

Amazon, Google and Apple are entering a heated battle over Cloud services. All three of which are putting emphasis on music storage with the Amazon Cloud Player, Google Music Beta and Apple’s iCloud, which will reportedly feature streaming music and integration with iTunes.

Apple Inc’s CEO Steve Jobs is expected to introduce and fully explain its iCloud tomorrow, June 6, at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco. (It’s a cool $1,599 to attend WWDC. If you didn’t buy your tickets, it’s too late; the event’s sold out. I had my credit card ready and everything. Maybe next year.)

Now, onto the Clouds. There are many Cloud services and companies offering Public or Private Clouds for Business. Here are Cloud offerings from three of the biggest players in media in Amazon, Google and Apple:

Amazon Cloud Drive

Amazon’s cloud drive starts you off with 5GB of storage space for free with additional premium plans from $20 to $1,000 per year, billed annually. Users can store “music, videos, photos, and documents on Amazon’s secure servers.” The 5GB of free space is about enough space, Amazon says, to store 1,000 songs. This first tier is free and you’ll never be charged for it.

If a user purchases a digital album from Amazon’s mp3 store (amazon.com), it’ll upgrade your 5GB of free storage to 20GB. Though after one year, if not renewed, users will be bumped down to the free 5GB. It’s not an automatic renewal, so that’s nice in my opinion. We’ve all taken advantage of free offers and forgotten about them, only to be charged for something we didn’t really want.

Other pricing/storage options are as follows, from 20GB to 1,000GB of space:

Google Cloud Apps & Google Music Beta

Google has taken a slightly different approach to the Cloud, offering a sleek line of Cloud Apps for different purposes. And Google’s been at this a while. I’m sure most of us are familiar with at a least a few of its Cloud Apps, whether or not we knew that’s what they were called. Google’s Cloud Apps include Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Chrome, Google Groups, among others.

“Because data in Google Apps is stored in the cloud instead of on employee computers, multiple users can access and contribute to projects simultaneously without worrying about using the same operating system, software, or browser. For example, instead of collaborating on a document by sending back and forth revision after revision as attachments, documents are stored in the cloud with Google Apps. Coworkers can access the web-based document simultaneously in their browsers, and even make changes that other authorized users can see in real-time. Eliminating attachment round-trips by storing data in the cloud saves time and reduces frustrations for teams who need to work together efficiently.” – Google.com / Google Apps for Business

Google Music Beta

In May, Google introduced Google Music Beta, a Cloud storage service for your music, similar to Amazon’s Cloud Player. Google, however, provides quite an impressive amount of storage in the Beta version, enough for 20,000 songs according to ZDNet. Amazon’s free 5GB allows around 1,000 songs.

Google Music Beta is available in the U.S. by invitation only and free for a limited time, according to the landing page in the Android Market.

Apple iCloud set to be unveiled June 6, 2011 at WWDC in San Francisco

The last of the three to introduce a Cloud music service, Apple may have been waiting for a reason. Reports have it that Apple has deals with Warner Music, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI Group to stream songs directly to the iCloud, like Pandora, Slacker, Rdio and other streaming services.

It’s rumored that the service will start with a free trial for iTunes customers, followed by a $25 per-year rate. ZDNet‘s Larry Dignan says Apple will also look to sell advertising around the cloud service.

Apple currently offers a Cloud service called MobileMe, a subscription-based collection of Internet services for Mac OS X, Windows, iPad,iPhone, and iPod Touch.

Apple’s iCloud all but ensures the next round of iPods will be able to connect to Wi-Fi or a 3G network.

Expect more on iCloud tomorrow after Apple’s WWDC.

A Face-Off in the Cloud

If Apple’s iCloud introduces what everyone is reporting — streaming music — this isn’t just a battle between Amazon, Google and Apple but also Nicolas Cage Pandora, Slacker, Rdio and other music streaming services. According to San Francisco’s International Business Times, Apple has also been in talks with the film industry, possibly adding movies and video to iCould. Could Apple be looking to face off against Netflix as well?

They’ve already invested in video streaming with Apple TV, though the service only includes a small line of Internet apps and pay-per-view titles, no content deals with film studios. If Apple reaches a deal with the film industry for iCloud, you can bet those titles are coming to Apple TV as well.

Amazon and Apple have a clear advantage in that users can purchase music from either Amazon.com or iTunes and have it saved directly to the respective Cloud. Apple’s support from major record labels could push it to the front of the pack.

How I’ve been using the Cloud

For the past month, I’ve been enjoying my time in the Cloud. I signed up for the 5 free GB of Amazon Cloud back in April. I then bumped that up to 20 GB free with the purchase of the one-day special (then two-day special due to high demand and a server crash) on Lady Gaga’s new album for only 99 cents. (If you’re curious, I bought if for my wife. Well, plus the additional 15 GB of storage space.)

The increase to 20GB lasts for one year. But, once that free trial runs out, I’ll probably be so used to using it that I’ll have to renew. (After all, it’s only $20 per year.) That is, unless I’m swayed by Apple’s iCloud offering.

The Amazon Cloud allows you to store music, documents, pictures or video. I have a number of files saved for backup or if I need a document when I’m on the road. But I’ve mostly been using Amazon’s Cloud for its Cloud Player.

Amazon Cloud Player – When I’m at the gym or in my car, the Cloud Player is great, with access to all of my songs and without taking up space on my phone.

I’ve also been taking advantage of Google Docs.

I reinstalled my operating system on my Dell XPS M1530 a while back, and haven’t gotten around to installing Microsoft Office. But with Google Docs, I haven’t really needed it.

What’s next for the Cloud?

In our increasingly mobile lifestyles, the Cloud is just what we need. And at just the right time. We’re all part of this mobile shift. A shift in the way we work, live, play, communicate and collaborate.

Laptops, Smartphones, Tablets, Netbooks, and entertainment services like Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, Slacker as well as mobile payments like Google Wallet, and NFC technology. Mobile is taking over the news and our lives.

The Cloud is the next logical step in connecting our mobile devices to all of our files, music and video.

Today, home is wherever we are. Office productivity and entertainment can happen anywhere. I suppose that’s both good and bad. Luckily, if we choose to use it, there’s an off switch.

A Netflix-red-hot topic on this blog and certainly in the tech world is the rise of Internet TV and the belief that it will some day replace cable TV as our chief source of home entertainment.

In previous posts, I’ve covered My Cord-Cutting Experience; Netflix; Hulu Plus; Roku; and even my comprehensive Internet TV Guide. Now I’d like to offer a few predictions on the current status of these services and the future of Internet TV and pay TV based on my first-hand experience and research over the past 13 months.

First let’s take a look at the playing field. Right now we’ve got powerhouse Netflix. Then Hulu Plus. And Amazon Instant Video. And other services like Crackle, PlayOn, and Internet Apps from a variety of providers including Roku, Sony, Apple, Google, Samsung, Vizio, Boxee and more.

Note the very distinct difference between unlimited streaming like Netflix and video-on-demand (VOD) services like Vudu. An example: Warner Bros. recently announced a deal to rent movies through social-networking behemoth Facebook. Many news outlets suggested this deal, through Facebook, would challenge Netflix. That’s dead-wrong. The deal, as it stands now, is video-on-demand. A charge per Warner Bros. movie –a version of yesterday’s pay-per-view — not unlimited streaming.

There’s a feeling you get when you graduate high school and head off to college. It’s a special kind of freedom that’s hard to describe. You can make your own decisions. Stay out late and do pretty much whatever you want.

That’s how Netflix is living. No cable-backed parent over its shoulder. Big Red’s got nothing holding it back. Though CEO Reed Hastings recently said he’s not competing with premium cable like HBO, I don’t believe him. [Hastings has made similar comments in the past only to contradict himself later. Take his stance on original programming. Hastings said the company wasn’t in the business of original programming until Netflix gained exclusive rights to original series House of Cards in March of this year.]

Hulu, on the other hand, is still living at home. And its parents watch cable. Hulu is jointly owned by Comcast’s NBC Universal, The Walt Disney Co., News Corp. and global private equity investment first Providence Equity Partners. In the sale of NBC Universal to Comcast in late January, GE had to relinquish its decision-making power and 32% stake of Hulu. (See my media ownership post here.) The deal gave Comcast 51% control of NBC Universal, now labeled NBCUniversal (no space and no peacock). Previously, GE owned 80 percent. Prior to the sale, GE purchased the remaining 20 percent stake from Vivendi Universal. GE’s stake in NBCUniversal is now 49 percent, though according to USA Today the company plans to completely remove its shares over the next eight years.

With Comcast holding stake in Hulu, I don’t see how Hulu Plus will fully commit to Internet TV in fear of making cable obsolete. That is, if Comcast has anything to do with it.

Studios and cable companies still seem hesitant to enter the streaming game full-steam. In part because it threatens pay TV and also because nobody knows where it’s headed. Fear of the unknown. But the conversion is happening, albeit slowly. It will likely continue at that pace until we reach an Internet-TV tipping point.

Watch for studios to start their own services on a smaller scale. I predicted just last week that premium cable channels like HBO and Showtime would roll-out their own subscription-based offerings.

One week after my prediction, Time Warner announced the acquisition of movie-discovery service Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes, as well as plans to develop an expanded video service. Though no plans of including any HBO content, per the report. [HBO recently introduced HBO GO, an extension of its premium cable channel. It is free with a paid subscription to HBO and is not a stand-alone or even subscription-based offering.]

From the Business Wire release: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group will utilize the powerful Flixster brand and technical expertise to launch a number of initiatives designed to grow digital content ownership, including the recently announced consumer application “Digital Everywhere.” This studio-agnostic application will be the ultimate destination for consumers to organize and access their entire digital library from anywhere on the device of their choice, as well as to share recommendations and discover new content. The Flixster acquisition and “Digital Everywhere,” combined with the Studio’s support of the UltraViolet format are all part of an overall strategy to give consumers even more freedom, utility and value for their digital purchases.

I’d watch for more studios and content owners to explore options for skipping the middle man and becoming the means of distribution for their content.

Studios like Disney, CBS, Viacom, and premium cable like Starz and Encore (both owned by Liberty Media Corp.) will all look in this direction. At first, simply to supplement their current revenue model.

Netflix is gaining a huge lead — the company just surpassed Comcast’s pay TV subscribers as the largest video-streaming service in North America –but in time there will be a number of subscription-streaming services. With overlap in content. For example, Netflix and Hulu offer some of the same programming or channels, while other programming is exclusive to the provider. Much like the DirecTV-Dish battle of today. (Or Netflix vs. Hulu Plus.) Only I see more competitors in the ring.

Right now, in 2011, we’re witnessing the easy part. There’s a clear distinction between pay TV and Netflix. Wait five years and we’ll see the transition taking place: cable companies — like Comcast, Time Warner, Viacom, and even satellite TV providers Dish and DirecTV — developing stand-alone Internet-TV subscriptions, separate from their pay TV plan.

So, at that end-point, what will be the difference between pay TV and TV over Internet, other than the means of distribution? First, the customization. Consumers will choose what content they want and when they want it. Whether it’s subscription services like Netflix or specific channels like, say, HBO’s Internet Channel. Second, the cost. The cost will be more in the Internet service and the streaming box, instead of paying to receive 300 predetermined channels. Subscriptions to our content will have to decline, as we see with Netflix subscription rates compared to that of a typical cable plan.

A few final talking points if pay TV as we know it today will move online and stream to our living rooms. 1) Live Newscasts; 2) Live Sporting Events; 3) Local News; 4) Advertising and 5) Local Advertising.

Live News is already happening on Roku, on the free Newscaster app. Al Jazeera streams live all day. In fact, I’m watching the live Al Jazeera stream as I write this section. So the capability is there. And Roku has a DVR-like function that lets you pause, rewind and resume the live feed. How about Sporting Events?

Xbox 360’s got that covered with its ESPN 3 app featuring live broadcasts and up-to-date sportscasts on a variety of sports. Roku’s got live coverage too including MLB TV, NBA Game Time, NHL and UFC. Local News is now streaming as well. Roku announced via Twitter on April 16 that it had added the first local news broadcast, Channel3000, a CBS News affiliate from Madison, Wisconsin. Roku pulls video from Channel3000′s website and makes it playable for free on the Roku player.

National News is better than ever on-demand with Xbox 360’s NBC News channel. Update: Roku introduced an NBC News channel in December of 2011, as well as CNBC Real-Time and Wall Street Journal Live.

Now Advertising. Hulu Plus has done the best job of incorporating video advertising into its content, using the pay TV model, ads within programming. A few of Roku’s internet apps have video ads as well as banner ads. How about Local Advertising, targeted just like Internet banner ads, based on location determined by the user’s IP address? But probably the greatest potential for the future of TV advertising is the connectivity. Imagine a television ad with a purchase, more info or social media one remote-click away.

It’s like cable, only customized and connected to the Internet. And on the consumer’s schedule. Almost as if every show on TV was Tivo’d for us. The consumer decides not only what content is displayed on his or her dashboard, but when it’s on.

Within the next 10 years, I see the Internet as our means of distribution for all television content. As broadband access becomes ubiquitous, like mobile phones and smartphones after it, the future of pay TV will be clear. Combine Netflix’s vast library of TV and Movies, Roku’s app-interface with the ad-model of Hulu Plus and mix in ESPN3’s live sports on Xbox 360 and you’ve got the future of pay TV.

We have the capability of all of these services today. It’ll just take someone to put it all together.

The future of TV is one box, connected to all of our subscriptions and video content including Movies, TV, News, Sports, Weather, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Local News channels, Live News and Live Sports. All at our fingertips. A media hub, allowing consumers to pick and choose the content they’d like displayed on their dashboards. A La Carte television. Complete consumer control.

INTERNET TV GUIDE [UPDATED OCT. 21, 2011]

I have been without cable TV service since April of 2010. One of the so-called TV cord cutters.

So for you, I’ll share my view (from the future perhaps). Here I’ve compiled a guide for those of us brave enough to live life without cable. In both written form and a chart for easier comparison.

Note: due to the complexity of these devices and the many different options, levels and subscription plans, some of this information may vary. For example, Xbox 360 requires no monthly subscription. But to access certain features, like its ESPN Internet App, an Xbox Live Gold Membership (roughly $3/mo.) is required. Additionally, Netflix starts at $7.99 for streaming-only, but an additional $7.99 for DVDs by mail, which I included below. I’m also focusing my guide on external devices, per se, and not TV sets that now have some of these offerings built-in, including wireless internet connectivity.

And now, a guide to Internet TV by Eric Zimmett.

[Click the guide to view full-screen.]

This guide is not meant to be a complete list of Internet TV services, but rather an overview of some of the best devices and services on the market. It does not include Internet-connected television sets, only external devices. As more services become available, and as current services change, this guide will be updated.

CATEGORIES EXPLAINED: Unit Cost notes the cost of the device upfront, if there is one. Subscription lists the monthly cost to use the service. In some cases, it was an annual subscription. In those cases, I divided by 12 (thanks Math 004!) to put everything on a level playing field. Netflix notes whether or not the service has access to Netflix. A subscription to Netflix is still required. Hulu Plus notes whether or not the service has access to Hulu Plus. A subscription to Hulu Plus is still required. I-Net Videos refers to internet video found throughout the web like cbs.com, espn.com, etc and whether or not the device has free access to those videos. I-Net Apps notes whether or not the device includes its own set of internet apps like Break.com, Facebook, Twitter, USA Today, CNN, etc. Internet apps vary by device. Blu-ray Player notes whether the device plays Blu-ray discs. Rentals shows whether or not the service offers DVDs or Blu-ray discs by mail. Pay-per-view tells whether the service offers movies or TV shows on a per view basis instead versus by-subscription.

And now, the details…and “my take” on each.

Life Without Cable TV, The Landscape:

Streaming Services [content subscription plans]

Users pay monthly for the Nextlix service, with a number of pricing options, starting at $7.99 for streaming-only, $7.99 for DVDs by mail. Netflix offers the largest catalogue of moves and a growing list of TV shows. No minimum contract length. No early cancelation fees.

My take: If you are going to go with only one subscription service, Netflix is it. The largest library, the best quality streaming plus DVD and Blu-ray by mail. Netflix has it figured out.

Hulu Plus* [subscription-based, streaming]

Users pay monthly for the Hulu Plus service. Cost is $7.99 per month. Hulu Plus offers the largest selection of TV shows and current season of TV shows. No minimum contract length. No early cancelation fees.

My take: If you are a Netflix subscriber, Hulu Plus is the perfect complement, offering you the new content, the current season that you don’t get with Netflix. Not nearly the quantity and streaming quality of Netflix, but Hulu is a great service.

Amazon Instant Video requires a subscription to Amazon Prime, which at first included only free 2-day shipping from Amazon.com. Amazon now lists Amazon Instant Video “free” with Amazon Prime membership. But since this isn’t a guide for the best free-shipping methods, Amazon Instant Video is about $7 per month (the price for Amazon Prime membership).

My take: Amazon Instant Video offers many of the same titles as Netflix (just not nearly as many). So if you’ve got Netflix, there’s no reason at the moment, other than free two-day shipping, to get Amazon Instant Video.

One of the pricier options for streaming video, starting around $300. Sony and Logitech each make a box that when connected to your TV will open you up to the library of videos on the internet in addition to Netflix and Hulu Plus. When your set is hooked up to Google TV, the service creates a special page for every TV series, i.e. Men of a Certain Age, which lets you quickly watch any episode whether it’s on the web or cable (if you have a cable subscription). Note: Google TV also comes built-in to certain TV sets, but we’re focusing this report on external devices.

My take: Google TV’s biggest strength is merging Internet TV and Cable TV into a complete video experience. Since I am without cable, Google TV doesn’t really do it for me. But if you’re looking to get the best of both worlds, Google TV is definitely worth a look.

Boxee Box [purchase unit, no subscription, streaming player]

Boxee Box by D-Link is a nice player. Like Google TV, it connects your TV to the internet and all the videos that come with it. In addition to Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon VOD, etc.

My take: Boxee is a major contender in my mind (and in the running to be my next player). Boxee is clearly trying to set itself apart from the competition. Clever name. Clever box (check it out if you haven’t seen it). And a lot of great content. A couple noteworthy features: Boxee comes with a remote control with a QWERTY keyboard on the back, perfect for searching for a particular show or movie without having to navigate to each character with a remote control. Another advanced feature is Facebook sync (plus Twitter and Boxee Network), which displays what you and your friends are watching, allowing recommendations, etc. A little creepy, yes. But I believe this is an opt-in feature.

PlayOn is a cheap alternative to Boxee Box, Orb and Roku, connecting your TV to the internet through an external device like a Blu-ray player or video-game console – which gives you access to internet video from CBS, Comedy Central, TBS, Adult Swim, Spike TV, ESPN, CNN, PBS, Cartoon Network, YouTube, MTV, Pandora, Vevo, Revision3, SyFy, Food Network, TED and more, in addition to Netflix and Hulu Plus.PlayOn is a little more complex in that you have to download an application to your computer, then run the application and sync it with your compatible Wi-Fi device (PS3, Blu-ray, etc).

My take: I just picked up my subscription to PlayOn (free 14-day trial, about $3 per month thereafter) and I love it. Streaming quality depends very much on your connection speed, but for the price, you can’t beat the content it offers. It takes some know-how, as it requires not only a separate device to stream (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, etc) but also a computer and Wi-Fi network. But for the money, it offers great internet content to your TV.

Pure VOD (video-on-demand) [today’s pay-per-view]

Vudu* [video-rental service, pay per video]

Some people refer to all streaming video as VOD (video-on-demand) but I try to differentiate it from subscription-based unlimited streaming. VOD lets you rent or purchase movies (per title). Vudu is available on a number of devices including Blu-ray players, Video-game systems, and all the Boxees, Orbs and Rokus out there.

My take: Today’s Pay-Per-View. I’ve rented movies a few times. The service is easy to use, quality was good, depends again on your connection speed. Prices, however, were average, $3.99 per rental for SD quality, $4.99 for HD on most titles.

Blockbuster On-Demand [video-rental service, pay per video]

Similar to Vudu and Amazon Video On-Demand, available on a number of devices including Blu-ray players, Video-game systems, and all the Boxees, Orbs and Rokus out there. Blockbuster is trying to save itself by moving into the internet streaming biz. There’s just about 10 years too late.

NEW: Blockbuster was acquired by Dish Network in April of 2011. In September, the company introduced Blockbuster Movie Pass. First touted as a Netflix-killer, the official news was less than impressive. This service is now an add-on to a Dish Network subscription for an additional $10 per month. Big disappointment from the Dish/Blockbuster acquisition pairing.

Similar to Vudu and Blockbuster On-Demand. Amazon VOD is available on a number of devices including Blu-ray players, Video-game systems, and all the Boxees, Orbs and Rokus out there. Amazon’s extended its services to the video realm. In addition to buying DVDs or Blu-ray discs on Amazon.com, you’re now able to stream videos instantly.

My take: Amazon could have something here. If it’s able to compete with Netflix and Hulu Plus with content, Amazon will be a contender.

Media Streaming Devices – the Big Players [each with its own set of internet apps]

Upper-level Blu-ray players allow you to connect to the internet, often wirelessly, and stream video content from a variety of sources. Each company also has its own set of Internet Apps, including Netflix and Hulu Plus. Before buying a Blu-ray player, make sure it is able to connect to the Internet and access streaming video as not all players have this capability.

My take: I’ve got a Sony BDP-S570 Blu-ray Player. Blu-ray quality is excellent. Plus I can wirelessly stream movies, music and podcasts. Including Netflix and Hulu Plus (subscription required for those) as well as a selection of Sony Internet apps like YouTube, Blip.tv, Crackle, Dr. Oz, WIRED, Daily Motion, eHow.com and more, free.

Upper-level Blu-ray players allow you to connect to the internet, often wirelessly, and stream video content from a variety of sources. Each company also has its own set of Internet Apps, including Netflix and Hulu Plus. Before buying a Blu-ray player, make sure it is able to connect to the Internet and access streaming video as not all players have this capability.

My take: Samsung is leading the way in the internet apps game, particularly with its Internet@TV. The company is really ahead of the curve (just introduced a Wi-Fi connected refrigerator with Pandora). Watch for more great things from Samsung.

Upper-level Blu-ray players allow you to connect to the internet, often wirelessly, and stream video content from a variety of sources. Each company also has its own set of Internet Apps, including Netflix and Hulu Plus. Before buying a Blu-ray player, make sure it is able to connect to the Internet and access streaming video as not all players have this capability.

My take: Vizio players are usually lower in price than other models, like their TV sets, and they offer some quality apps. Vizio internet apps (via) include Netflix, Hulu Plus, Blockbuster, Amazon VOD, NBA Game Time, Flickr, Pandora, Rhapsody, Vudu, Twitter, Yahoo and eBay.

Apple TV* [purchase unit, no subscription, streaming player]

Apple TV just redesigned its little black box (smaller, more portable?) but it still packs a big punch. Apple TV will get you Netflix and a few VOD options (pay-per-view) and YouTube, Mobile Me, and Flickr. The device also lets you sling media from an iPad to your TV.

My take: Like all Apple products, this thing is slick. Navigation and quality is smooth and top-notch. Recommended for Apple fans or anyone looking to add Netflix to the home and isn’t swayed by Roku’s large library of Internet video.

Orb TV [purchase unit, no subscription, streaming player]

Orb is slightly more sophisticated than a few of the players in this guide, but that also means it’s more complicated. Orb connects you with the Internet’s library of video content, Netflix and Hulu streaming plus Sirius XM Radio but requires a little help from your computer (like PlayOn).

My take: Orb is a little more complicated than other devices, but offers some nice features. Comparable to PlayOn, just more advanced with a better interface and more features.

No PC needed here. Roku is as simple as it gets. Like many players in this guide it connects wirelessly to your network. And Roku starts at just $59.99. Roku also offers one of the finer collection of Internet apps including: Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Pandora, Roku Newscaster, CNet, Blip.tv, Break.com, Crackle, Facebook Photos, Flickr, Last.fm, NASA, Picasa, Revision3, TuneIn Radio and, actually, a ton of other applications.

Roku is the most advanced player I’ve used, incorporating premium channels like Netflix and Hulu Plus with free content from Break.com, Crackle and Newscaster. Newscaster displays up-to-date video content from the major news networks. FOX News, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, PBS and more. One such source, Al Jazeera, even streams live in the mornings. News 3, Channel 3000, is a local news channel in Wisconsin. It is the first local news channel offered through the internet and into your living room.

My take: For anyone even considering ditching the cable box, Roku is a must. Roku is one of the least expensive options for streaming video and video-on-demand, with its first player starting at $59.99. Roku just released the Roku 2 line but I’m partial to the last release.

Video-game systems[with access to Netflix and Hulu Plus. Wii is the only system without access to Hulu Plus]

Xbox 360 does probably the best job of incorporating video-on-demand. Great video-game console able to connect wirelessly to Netflix or Hulu Plus. Xbox also features its own small line of Internet apps including ESPN3 that come with its Xbox Live Gold subscription. ESPN3 on Xbox 360 is exceptional, featuring a ton of sports content updated daily.

In October, Xbox announced a slew of partnerships with “nearly 40 world class TV and entertainment providers coming to Xbox LIVE including: Bravo, Comcast, HBO GO, Verizon FiOS and Syfy in the U.S.; BBC TV and radio in the U.K.; Telefónica in Spain; Rogers On Demand in Canada; Televisa in Mexico; ZDF in Germany; and MediaSet in Italy, that will begin rolling out to consoles in more than 20 countries this holiday.”

More on this Xbox news soon….

My take: Xbox Rocks. The new content on the way is only going to make it more a home entertainment system. Though some content will require a pay-TV subscription. Xbox Live Gold Membership is required to gain access to ESPN3 but some apps are free. Kinect also offers another way to control some of these apps including Netflix. Though connect, users can navigate Netflix with hand gestures and voice commands.

Wii* [purchase unit, subscription required for Netflix]

Video-game console able to connect to Netflix. Wii is the only video-game system on the market that does not support HD video, making the quality the lowest of the bunch.

My take: Wii is lagging behind a bit in the streaming game, with access to Netflix but still no Hulu Plus. Wii is now the only system with no Hulu Plus support. Netflix browsing on Wii is a little awkward, not quite as streamlined as Playstation 3. Though a recent update made this experience much better.

*I have personally used the services or devices noted in this report (and marked with an asterisk).

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Sources: All of the websites for devices/services listed in this guide plus google.com, gizmodo.com